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At 7th Ward's fatal shooting: 'It's getting really outrageous'

Updated on April 11, 2016 at 6:33 AMPosted on April 10, 2016 at 9:22 PM

7th Ward shooting April 10 3.jpg

A Orleans Coroner's van transports a body from the scene of a fatal shooting in the 7th Ward on Sunday, April 10, 2016. A woman who identified herself as the victim's aunt is restrained as the van leaves the crime scene. (Wilborn Nobles III, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

New Orleans police are investigating a fatal shooting in the 7th Ward on Sunday evening (April 10) that claimed the life of an unknown male. The incident occurred at the intersection of Allen and North Roman streets.

Around 7:37 p.m., officers found the 31-year-old victim lying face up in the grassy area underneath the Interstate 10 overpass, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nearby residents said they heard several gunshots. When Charles Smith heard the sounds, he said he went outside to see what happened but immediately had a feeling he already knew what occurred. Moments later, police filled the street and taped off the intersection and an area of the neighborhood that included three houses.

"It's getting really outrageous," Smith said. "Kids can't come outside and summertime is getting ready to come, so a lot of people are going to be fearing for their children."

Residents trickled to and from the crime scene during the initial investigation. One man anxiously strutted toward the scene, saying aloud that he came to see if it was "his little partner" who was shot. Another woman nearby asked residents if they knew who the victim and asked people to tell her so she can make sure it was nobody she knew.

Police investigated a trailer filled with trash beside two houses located near the shooting. Residents said the shooter ran between the two houses.

A woman who identified herself as the victim's aunt arrived around 10 p.m. She and several residents gathered behind the police tape as she spoke to the NOPD. She stressed to them that she could identify him from his tattoos, but the police told her to wait until they can get more information. Her somber mood evolved into anger toward the police more than 20 minutes later as a woman the aunt identified as the victim's mother arrived to the scene.

The aunt screamed at the NOPD, demanding that they check his tattoos as the coroner van containing the victim's body drove away.

"You mean to tell me you can't walk down there and check for tattoos?" She screamed. "Y'all ain't no good."

The residents behind her grabbed her arms and pulled her away from the tape as the van moved by. They escorted her, and a teary-eyed woman identified as the victim's girlfriend, away from the police tape as the mother spoke with law enforcement.